Neysa Wilkins – The suit that ran the Olympic torch

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What’s In Your Closet?

Closets hold heirlooms, closets hold secrets, and closets hold treasures, dreams and hopes.

We were not after dirty laundry when we asked local residents the question: “What’s in your closet?” The question quickly became a wonderful way to learn more about a person’s life and bits and pieces about their past, the paths they have taken, the lessons they have learned and the plans they had. Have a peek into local personalities’ homes and lives as they open up their closets and share anecdotes and stories with us while showing off items that are special to them, items that they will never part with and items that will always be vivid reminders of what once was and still is special.[/box]

Neysa Wilkins, TV News Anchor at Channel 7, Panama City, Florida, talks about one of the most exciting days in her life. “Just before the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Utah, people around the country were nominated to run the torch and flame that comes from Greece, by boat, all the way to the United States. I was nominated by my TV station to be a torch bearer for the short time the flame was carried through Florida on its way to Utah. I was chosen and was number 230 of 3500 available torch bearer positions on the way to Utah. It was a wonderful honor – I became a part of history.”

She explains “The Winter Olympic Games in Utah started in February 2002 but the torch was carried through the country in 2001. It was very hot and I was running, although we did not have to run very fast, in full winter garb with the lit torch.”

The suit was the smallest size that was available but Neysa still has to roll up the sleeves and legs of the bright white and blue Winter Olympics 2002 livery. Not pictured but part of the ensemble were matching white fluffy gloves and a warm and fluffy hat. All that was accompanied by the torch that Neysa was allowed to keep after all flammable material had been removed for safety purposes.

Neysa Wilkins and her husband Alex own several items and heirlooms that they are thinking of preserving by placing them in display boxes. He is a retired Navy sniper. For their wedding rehearsal, he had military fatigues custom-made for her. It was a very romantic gesture in remembrance of the first time they met – he was wearing his fatigues.